Acupuncture for Neck Pain

By Editorial Team
, Onlymyhealth editorial team

Sep 07, 2012

543214.8 / 5(4 Ratings)

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is a common complaint—so common that, there is an expression "a pain in the neck" in English language. It can vary in severity for mild (so that it is a mere annoyance) to severe. If the neck pain is severe it can even affect your quality of life. Neck is more prone to injury and pain than any other portion of the spine because of its position and range of motion. It has an important role in the support of the head. If the pain in neck is severe you may need to consult a health professional. [Read: Home Remedies for Sore Neck]

There are several causes of neck pain like if you keep your head in an awkward position it can lead to neck muscles fatigue and the joints in the neck to "lock" in place, causing pain, discomfort, stiffness and limited range of motion. Other common causes of neck pain include injury to neck (caused by a sudden force such as an automobile accident), or certain diseases (like swelling, tumors, bleeding, inflammation, etc.). [Read: Ayurvedic Treatment for Neck Pain]

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Who suffers from neck pain?

Almost everyone has had neck pain or stiffness some time or other during their lifetime. But certain people are more prone to suffer from neck pain like manual laborers, people who sit for prolonged period with their head in a flexed position (such as typing on a keyboard at a desk), if the work involves twisting and bending during work and of course age (elderly are more disposed to develop neck pain).

What can acupuncture do for neck pain?

According to some research acupuncture can help to relieve certain types of neck pain, such as those caused by whiplash injury, degenerative neck disorders such as ankylosing spondylosis and cervical spondylosis. It has been shown that acupuncture can cure neck pain in people who have not been benefitted by conventional approaches.

Many acupuncturists will recommend acupressure and herbal medicine as well in conjunction with acupuncture for neck pain. The pain and spasm in the neck muscles are reduced by applying acupressure to the neck muscles. This may make you feel relaxed and improve your sense of well-being.

You need not stop your other medications if you go for acupuncture. But for optimal results you should consult a trained and licensed practitioner. Acupuncture can be an effective, low-risk procedure, and safe procedure when performed by a properly trained and licensed practitioner.

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